The death of every person is an irreparable loss for their loved ones, but the sudden, premature death of Professor Andrey Alekseevich Zhukov of St. Petersburg University is a tragedy for Russian and especially for St. Petersburg African studies. His death, which followed on February 15, 2006, instantly highlighted the scale of this major St. Petersburg scientist and organizer of African studies, its special significance for Russian-African relations and the fate of African researchers from the banks of the Neva.

Head of the Department of African Studies since 1987, Deputy Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on problems of economic, socio-political and cultural development of African countries, Honored Scientist A. A. Zhukov was born on November 27, 1938 in Kirov. In 1956, he entered the Eastern Faculty of Leningrad University, where he studied at the Department of African Studies under the guidance of a corresponding member. D. A. Olderogge, founder of the Soviet and Russian School of Black Continent Studies. A talented student in 1961, he was enrolled in graduate school, the result of which was a PhD thesis on the work of the largest Tanzanian poet Shaaban Robert, which he defended in 1968. Before that, he spent about a year as an intern at Dar es Salaam University, mastered the Swahili language at the conversational and poetic translation level, and became the most prominent in the USSR a specialist in Eastern Bantu linguistics and culture. He laid the foundations for the academic study of the Swahili language, literature, and culture, which is the basis of modern Bantu philology in Russia and even abroad, in particular in Germany. The result of A. A.'s scientific activity. Zhukov became a doctoral dissertation, which he defended in 1988 at the Eastern Faculty of Leningrad State University.

Continuing the traditions of his predecessor D. A. Olderogge as Head of the Department of African Studies, A. A. Zhukov expanded the international relations of his department, including: -

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having signed agreements on cooperation and exchange of students with the best universities in Europe and Africa, including Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, etc. Which university in the country can boast of regular trips of students to the studied regions? But thanks to A. A. Zhukov, field linguistic expeditions of students to the countries of West Africa, starting from the second year, became a common practice. He was a familiar figure in the academic and university circles of Africanists in Europe, North America, and Africa, including many of his students and friends. It is no coincidence that it is called the "bridge" between St. Petersburg and European African studies. A. A. Zhukov connected both St. Petersburg and Moscow Africanists, domestic researchers of the continent and Africans studying in Russia.

He really saw the integration of our professional workshop as one of the most important life goals and made great efforts to keep the conflicting scientific and human egos within the framework of common norms. Wisely stood above vanity and conflicts, tried to appeal to the mind of those who sow discord. And as such, he considered his work as Deputy Chairman of the RAS Scientific Council on Africa, and therefore became the initiator and organizer of the annual Readings in memory of D. A. Olde-Rogge in St. Petersburg, which created a single, continuous field of African studies. These Readings brought together professional researchers from Yekaterinburg and Finland, Krasnodar and South Africa.

He was distinguished not only by his scientific conscientiousness, but also by his human gentleness and courtesy, which is now inclined to be regarded as conformism: at discussions, he could resolutely oppose the opinion of the meeting, giving convincing arguments that made the audience unconditionally accept his point of view. This quality is part of his nature as a professional manager. After all, at the age of 32, he became vice-rector for Foreign Affairs of the second university in the Soviet Union, and later-vice-rector for academic affairs. And in these posts, in not the mildest of times, he was able to preserve his own and other people's dignity. Therefore, no one can accuse him of neglecting other people's destinies.

And how many dozens, if not hundreds, of aspiring scientists did he help to make the first step in science, and they saw their first publications in the collections of works of young Africanists or materials of the "Readings in Memory of D. A. Olderogge", of which he was one of the initiators of the publication and editor! And how many graduates of his department now work in Russian embassies in Africa, in radio and television, in other practical and scientific organizations - translators, editors, journalists, diplomats...

It is not surprising that his scientific and administrative activities were marked by orders and other awards of the USSR and foreign countries, and he was awarded the title of Honored Scientist of Russia.

The expression "he had his broad back covered" - in this case, the entire St. Petersburg African studies community, which could only feel carefree thanks to him-was very appropriate for this man.

It was easy for the Scientific Council on Africa, the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the ISAA at Moscow State University to cooperate with him, where they could always rely on his firm word. And the human charm, tact and sociability helped Andrey Alekseevich to make a lot of friends, which is why they are experiencing the early death of a dear friend.

He was loved by his family and friends, for whom, according to his younger brother, from childhood he was a moral authority and a model of behavior, attitude to study. He created a fortress for himself, whose name is family, where he was the main supporting structure.

Together with the relatives and friends of the staff of the Institute of Africa, everyone who knew Andrey Alekseevich Zhukov closely is experiencing this tragic, early death.

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